Removing a contact from your LinkedIn network

To delete a contact on LinkedIn, open their profile, click the three dots next to the "Message" button, and select "Remove connection." LinkedIn will remove them from your network when ready — they won't be notified, and you'll no longer see their posts or activity in your feed. The contact will also disappear from your connections list.

This action is permanent. Once you remove someone, you'll need to send them a new connection request if you want to reconnect later. They can accept or decline just as they would with any other request.

Key Takeaways

  • You can remove a connection by visiting their profile and clicking the three dots next to the Message button, then selecting "Remove connection."
  • The person you remove will not receive a notification that you've disconnected from them.
  • Removing a contact is when ready and permanent — you won't see their posts or activity after deletion.
  • If you remove someone by mistake, you can send them a new connection request to reconnect.
  • On mobile, the remove option is in the same menu but may appear as "Remove" or "Disconnect" depending on your app version.

Removing a connection on desktop

Start by navigating to the profile of the person you want to remove. You can find them by searching their name in the search bar at the top of your LinkedIn homepage, or by scrolling through your connections list and clicking their name.

Once you're on their profile, look for the "Message" button near the top. Just to the right of it, you'll see three dots (called an ellipsis menu). Click those three dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Select "Remove connection" from that menu. LinkedIn will ask you to confirm — click "Remove" again in the confirmation box, and the contact will be deleted from your network.

Removing a connection on mobile

Open the LinkedIn app on your phone and search for the person's profile using the search icon at the bottom of your screen. Tap their name to open their profile.

At the top of their profile, you'll see a button that says "Connected" or shows a checkmark. Tap that button. A menu will appear with options including "Remove connection" or "Disconnect." Tap that option, and confirm when prompted. The contact will be removed from your network.

What happens after you remove someone

Once you delete a contact, that person will no longer appear in your connections list. You won't see their posts in your feed, and they won't see yours. However, they can still view your profile if it's set to public — removing them from your network doesn't hide your profile from them.

If you both work at the same company or attended the same school, LinkedIn may still show you as alumni or colleagues in those sections, but you won't be connected. The person won't know you removed them unless they check their connections list and notice you're no longer there.

Removing contacts in bulk

LinkedIn doesn't have a built-in feature to remove multiple contacts at once. You'll need to remove each person individually by visiting their profile and using the three-dot menu. If you have a large number of people to remove, this will take time, but there's no faster way through LinkedIn's standard interface.

Some third-party tools claim to remove multiple connections at once, but LinkedIn's terms of service prohibit automated connection management. Using these tools risks your account being flagged or suspended, so it's safer to remove contacts manually.

Reconnecting after you remove someone

If you remove someone by mistake or change your mind later, you can reconnect. Search for their profile and click the "Connect" button. This sends them a new connection request, just as if you were connecting for the first time. They'll see your request and can accept or decline it.

When you send a reconnection request, you have the option to add a note explaining why you're reconnecting. This can be helpful if the removal was accidental or if you want to explain that you'd like to stay in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the person know I removed them?

No, LinkedIn doesn't send a notification when you remove a connection. However, if they check their connections list or search for your profile, they may notice you're no longer connected. They won't receive an alert about it.

Can I remove someone without them seeing it?

Yes. Removing a connection is private — the other person won't be notified. They'll only know if they actively look at their connections list or try to visit your profile and notice the connection is gone.

What's the difference between removing a connection and blocking someone?

Removing a connection straightforward ends your professional relationship on LinkedIn. Blocking someone prevents them from viewing your profile, sending you messages, or finding you in search results. Blocking is more restrictive and is typically used when you want to prevent someone from contacting you.

If I remove someone, can they still message me?

Once you remove a connection, they can no longer send you direct messages through LinkedIn unless you reconnect. If they try to message you, they'll see an option to send an invitation first.

Can I undo a removal right away?

There's no undo button for removing a connection. However, you can when ready send them a new connection request if you realize you made a mistake. They'll receive it as a fresh request.